Since entering the then Victorian Football League in 1908, the Tigers have met nine league newcomers, for a return of three wins and six losses.
In Round 2 of the 1908 season, Richmond took on fellow “new kid on the block”, University, at the East Melbourne oval, and lost by 18 points - 12.4 (76) to 14.10 (94) - after trailing right throughout the match. Tiger captain Charlie Pannam kicked three goals, while for University, Harry Cordner, one of the famous Cordner clan, also booted three majors.
It wasn’t until 1925 that the Tigers got another crack against newcomers . . . that was the year three clubs entered the VFL competition - Footscray, Hawthorn and North Melbourne.
Richmond ventured out to Glenferrie Oval for the ’25 season-opener against Hawthorn, and emerged with a comfortable 39-point victory - 11.11 (77) to 5.8 (38). Star rover Donald Don kicked four goals for the Tigers and Mel Morris, who would go on to captain-coach the Club in 1926, scored three.
In Round 8, 1925, Richmond hosted Footscray at Punt Road, but was in ‘catch-up’ mode all day, trailing by 29 points at three-quarter time and eventually going down by six points - 9.21 (75) to 12.9 (81). Elusive full-forward Jack Huggard bagged six of Richmond’s nine goals, while Allan Hopkins was a standout for the Tri-colors, as Footscray was known back then, with four goals.
Two rounds later, the Tigers made the trip to Arden Street, to play the third of the league’s three 1925 season debutants - North Melbourne. With Morris again prominent, booting four goals, they proved too strong for the Shinboners, winning by 18 points - 10.9 (69) to 7.9 (51).
Six decades on, in Round 1 of the 1987 season, Richmond made the four-hour journey to Perth to do battle with the fledgling West Coast Eagles. It all looked good for the Tigers at the last change, when they were 33 points in front, but with the home crowd going ‘nuts’, the Eagles played inspired football, to get up and win by 14 points - 20.13 (133) to 16.23 (119).
Then, in Round 8, 1987, the Tigers went to Carrara, on the Gold Coast, to play the Brisbane Bears. They returned, with their tails between their legs, after suffering a 35-point - 15.19 (109) to 22.12 (144). Rubbing salt into the wound was the fact that triple Richmond Best and Fairest winner and 1980 premiership hero, Geoff Raines, played a major role in the Tigers’ downfall, gathering 31 disposals in a typically classy display, which earned him two Brownlow votes. Jeff Hogg and Dale Weightman, with four goals apiece, tried valiantly to lift the Tiger team, but it was all to no avail.
In Round 13 of the 1991 season, league newcomer the Adelaide Crows flew into town for their MCG clash with Richmond. Despite the hard-nosed efforts of Tony Free (26 disposals), the Tigers fell well short of their rookie rivals, finishing with just 6.11 (47) to 12.13 (85). Adelaide ruckman Mark Mickan polled the three Brownlow votes that day for his dominant display at the centre bounces and around the ground.
Then, in the opening round of the 1995 season, Richmond hosted the debutant Fremantle Dockers at the MCG. The Tigers scraped home by five points in that match - 12.18 (90) to 12.13 (85) - with current Club CEO, Brendon Gale, receiving the three Brownlow votes in his 99th game.
Finally, in Round 6, 1997, Richmond travelled to the stadium then known as Football Park, for a first-up meeting with Port Adelaide. The Power was well and truly switched on for this clash, cruising to a 64-point win - 19.8 (122) to 8.10 (58).
Current Richmond assistant coach Brendon Lade picked up the one Brownlow vote for his sterling performance in the ruck for Port, while the Tigers were best served by Wayne Campbell (31 disposals), Paul Broderick (29 disposals), and Brendon Gale (three goals).
We await with interest to see how the inaugural match between Richmond and the Gold Coast Suns pans out . . .
